Chapter 264 Someone is thinking
Empress Dowager Lu sneered in her heart and said, "If that's the case, why are you trying to make things difficult for Feng Yi?"

Hearing Empress Dowager Lu mention Wang Fengyi, Lu Ji interrupted coldly: "Sister, don't mention this vicious woman in front of me again."

Empress Dowager Lu was choked and said, "I also heard from my sister-in-law about that scoundrel going to your mansion to recognize his relatives. Although you have found some evidence, it cannot prove that Fengyi did it."

Seeing that Empress Dowager Lu mentioned Wang Fengyi again and again, Lu Ji's face showed impatience. Seeing this, Empress Dowager Lu softened her tone and said, "It's not that I want to speak for Fengyi, but I really can't stand you wrongly accusing others with this kind of personality."

"That scoundrel villager only said that he became wealthy for no reason, and he didn't know who gave him the money. Just based on this, you can't conclude that Feng Yi was behind it."

Empress Dowager Lu smiled and said, "That scoundrel is dead and there is no evidence to prove his wrongdoing. His mother is crazy and can't be found. It's a bit far-fetched for you to arbitrarily conclude that it was Feng Yi who ordered it just based on what the villager said."

"We in the Lu family cannot treat others unfairly like this."

"In the final analysis, you are just angry about An Ning leaving, and you have no place to vent your anger, so you take it out on Feng Yi."

Originally, Lu Ji could force himself to listen to his elder sister's chatter, but when he heard her mention Qin Xiaoning again, Lu Ji was so annoyed that he subconsciously slammed the table.

The sound of "bang" startled Empress Dowager Lu.

"If my elder sister mentions her again, I will leave." After saying this, he really got angry and stood up.

Empress Dowager Lu hurriedly stood up and held her brother down. She glanced at the documents on the table and said repeatedly, "Don't give up. There are so many political affairs. Are you going to leave them to a woman like me to handle?"

I know my brother is very concerned about his reputation, and he would be embarrassed if he was dumped by a little girl.

Then she coaxed him, "Good brother, sister won't say anything. I won't mention Ah Ning. I won't mention it. I definitely won't mention it."

Lu Ji paused for a while, and when he calmed down, he responded coldly: "Sister, don't think that I still think about her. She left so cruelly. Sister, do you think that I, Lu Ji, am the kind of person who can't let go after getting it?"

Empress Dowager Lu quickly echoed, "Brother, you are a man of integrity, so you are not the type to be like a nagging mother."

"A man should have no problem finding a wife." Lu Ji snorted coldly, "If she wants to leave, then let her leave. Don't expect me to go to great lengths to look for her."

Then, he snorted heavily and said in a bad temper, "Even if I find her, I will never beg her to come back in a humble way."

"Oh! Without Qin Xiaoning, I, Lu Ji, will not be able to survive, right?"

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Lu couldn't help but sigh. Seeing Lu Ji's knife-like eyes sweeping over, she quickly covered her mouth and said, "I'm not sighing at you."

Lu Ji rolled his eyes at Empress Dowager Lu and said, "If you have nothing else to do, please go back first. I have to be busy."

He raised his hand and picked up a memorial from the table, and said to himself: "There are so many official matters, I don't have the heart to think about anything else."

Having said that, he lowered his eyes and stared at the memorial carefully.

Empress Dowager Lu really wanted to sigh, but she was afraid of angering people again, so she endured it. After taking two steps, she couldn't help but turn back and raised her hand to take the memorial out of Lu Ji's hand: "Take it upside down."

Qin Xiaoning, who was being nagging by Lu Ji, sneezed twice.

Mrs. Wei's daughter Rou'er was playing the piano next door. She turned around and said, "Mr. Lu, are you feeling unwell?" "No." Qin Xiaoning rubbed her nose and said, "I don't know why I always sneeze these days, sometimes even several times in a row."

Rouer smiled: "I heard that if you sneeze for no reason, nine out of ten times it's because someone is reading your name."

After hearing the little girl's unintentional words, Qin Xiaoning subconsciously thought of Lu Ji.

She raised her hand and stroked her belly, then turned to look at Rou'er: "Play the piano well, don't be distracted."

Rouer stuck out her tongue and continued practicing. When the get out of class was over, Mrs. Wei came to pick up her daughter in person.

Since her daughter started learning piano from Qin Xiaoning, her piano skills have improved by leaps and bounds. Mrs. Wei was very happy and brought some snacks to express her gratitude to Qin Xiaoning.

"I have a small pastry shop. These are made by our own master chef. I'll bring them to my wife to try."

As one of the richest businessmen in Qianzhou, the Wei family's business covers a wide range, from large-scale sea transportation outside the vassal state to small-scale rouge, powder and snack shops.

Qin Xiaoning smiled and thanked him. She saw a little girl of about eight or nine years old following Mrs. Wei. Judging from her clothes, she looked like a daughter of a wealthy family. So she asked, "Is this also a young lady from the mansion?"

Madam Wei said hurriedly, "Look at me. I was so busy talking that I forgot to introduce you." As she spoke, she pulled the little girl next to her and said, "This is my second uncle's daughter, her name is Zhao'er."

The little girl had a round apple-like face and a pair of watery eyes, but she looked shy and timid. Even when Mrs. Wei asked her to call for help, she was too shy to do so.

Seeing that the little girl was shy, Qin Xiaoning called the newly bought Hong'er and Qing'er to take her to the back garden to pick fruits and play. Mrs. Wei saw her niece leave, then sighed and said: "It's no wonder that this child has a dull temper. My second aunt died of postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth to her. My second uncle is doing business outside all year round and is often not at home. Although this child has been raised by me, she is not as comfortable as her biological parents. Look, she has been like this since she was a child, and she doesn't like to talk to people."

Hearing this, Qin Xiaoning looked back at the little girl who was picking fruits with the little maid, then turned to Madam Wei and said, "I think this child is very good."

As she spoke, she suggested, "Why not let her follow Rou'er to learn the piano with me? Madam is busy with household affairs, and I am pregnant and cannot go out. I will stay at home with these two sisters and teach them more."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wei clapped her hands in delight: "That's great."

Then he said with concern: "But Zhao'er is still young, I'm worried that she will disturb my lady."

Qin Xiaoning said, "It's okay."

Mrs. Wei saw this and took the opportunity to say, "If you really want to teach Zhao'er, let's stick to the old rules. I will give you an extra 200 taels of silver every year as the child's tuition."

Qin Xiaoning declined, "That's not necessary. I teach two students the same way as I teach one. Both sisters are obedient children, and I like teaching them."

"That's impossible." Madam Wei said, "I'm sorry that I'm giving you more trouble to teach two children."

Seeing that Qin Xiaoning was determined not to do it, Madam Wei said truthfully, "Since you taught Rou'er the art of playing the zither, the child has made great progress. A while ago, she had a tea party with the daughters of several officials in the city, and Rou'er played a piece that even outperformed those daughters of officials."

When mentioning this, Mrs. Wei's face was filled with pride.

Qin Xiaoning agreed, "Rou'er is smart. I only need to give her some pointers and she will understand."

"That's also because of your good teaching." Madam Wei continued, "The Countess was also present at the tea party that day." She snorted, "In the past, this woman always looked down on our family for being merchants, but now that she sees that Rou'er is so outstanding and her cultivation and talents are better than those noble ladies, she is much warmer to me and Rou'er than before when she sees us again."